University Southern California Trojans
Men's Water Polo Hosts UC Irvine On Saturday
September 28, 1999 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 28, 1999
LOS ANGELES - The defending NCAA champion USC men's water polo team (7-1 overall, 1-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), hosts UC Irvine (2-5, 0-2 - plays Loyola Marymount on Thursday) on Saturday (Oct. 2) at 1 p.m. at the McDonald's Swim Stadium (2 1/2 hours before the football game).
RANKINGS - USC was ranked No. 2 in the Sept. 22 U.S. Water Polo Top 20 Poll. UC Irvine was ranked No. 4.
OPPONENT - UC Irvine (2-5, 0-2 - plays Loyola Marymount on Thursday) has lost four in a row, including a 5-4 USC victory in the semifinals of the Southern California Tournament. Sophomore driver John Dorfi leads the Anteaters with 14 points, while sophomore 2-meter man Jeff Powers has scored 10. Since 1979, when USC records begin, the Trojans hold a 34-23 series lead and have won 10 in a row.
LAST WEEKEND - The Trojans opened up the MPSF season on Saturday (Sept. 25) with a 10-5 win at UC Santa Barbara. Allen Basso scored four points and James Castle scored two. Then, the Trojans went to Pepperdine on Sunday (Sept. 26) and earned a 10-5 non-conference victory. Basso and Adam Guerrero scored three goals each and Richard McEvoy made 13 saves.
JOVAN VAVIC - After serving as co-head coach for the last four seasons, Vavic takes over as head coach in 1999. The last year has been a good one for Vavic, as he helped the USC men to the 1998 NCAA championship, then led the USC women to the 1999 national championship as their head coach. Entering this season, Vavic's record as co-head coach was 89-18 (.832).
RICHARD McEVOY - After earning All-American third team status the last two seasons, Richard McEvoy (Pembroke Pines, FL/Cooper City HS) may very well be the best goalie in the country as a 1999 senior. He has made 78 saves in 1999, 9.8 per game, and is allowing 6.1 points per game. He ranks fourth on USC's career save list with 470. McEvoy made the All-Southern California Tournament second team.
GEORGE CSASZAR - USC's leading scorer in 1998, George Csaszar is off to another good start as a 1999 junior driver. A native of Hungary, he is second on USC with 14 points this season. He made the All-Southern California Tournament first team. Last year he made the All-American second team and scored 60 points.
ALLEN BASSO - One of USC's most veteran players, senior driver Allen Basso (Lake Forest/El Toro HS) is off to a terrific start. He has scored 20 points, best on the team, and has connected on a team-high three two-pointers. He made the All-Southern California Tournament first team. He was named MPSF Player of the Week on Sept. 13 after scoring five points in the season opener against Long Beach State. Last season he made All-American honorable mention and scored 25 points.
OTHERS - In addition to McEvoy, Csaszar and Basso, the Trojans feature three other All-Americans from a year ago ... Senior 2-meter man James Castle (Hacienda Heights/Wilson HS), an All-American second teamer in 1998, was slowed by injury to start the 1999 season. He has scored five points ... Senior 2-meter man Peter Janov (Bratislava, Slovakia) is considered USC's ironman because of the amount of minutes he plays. An All-American honorable mention last season, he has scored eight points this season ... Sophomore 2-meter man Ivan Babic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) is another standout who also made All-American honorable mention last season. He has six points in 1999.
